Screen Blacks-out

carbait · Post by **carbait** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 9:55 am

My Fallout 1 doesn't seem to want to cooperate with my Windows XP (SP2). I installed it on my laptop and it worked perfectly, but on my desktop computer, the screen blacks out every few seconds (literally sometimes a half second) I've updated my directx, my graphics card drivers, rebooted my computer, tried running it in other compatibility modes, tried reinstalling it.. and i still have the problem! Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 1:08 am

Perhaps downgrading drivers would help solve the problem instead of upgrading. But it is a "dangerous path" to take, because it can mess up so many other things.

But getting the game to run on WinXP is a gamble, it wasn't made for neither the hardware nor the software, so many strange things can happen. But you sound to have tried all the things I would have suggested...

Do you run an Antivirus program? then if possible, try to deactivate/uninstall it and see if that makes a different. Sometimes the protect features of these programs will mess with your games/software.

carbait · Post by **carbait** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:21 am

all ready upgraded all the drivers, patched the game, as well as trying to turn off antivirus software..firewalls..etc.. still not working. My hubby discovered that the game will run fine on his profile (same computer..same settings) but not on my profile. Both are super administrator profiles. he's a programmer for the state, and he cant figure it out either lol

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:52 am

[QUOTE=carbait]all ready upgraded all the drivers,<snip>[/QUOTE]

Said you could try and downgrad drivers not upgrade.

Old games sometimes (often) can have issues with new drivers due to all the new fancy thingies the drivers can do.....
But I wouldn't personally recommend downgrading for just one game.

It is indeed strange the game can run on one profile and not the other - I'd suspect there perhaps is some settings which indeed are different. Perhaps some software installed in one of the accounts and not the other.

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 10:02 am

It could be some kind of resolution issue. I don't own Fallout so I can't say for sure. Is it possible to play in some kind of windowed mode? That could help. And maybe it'd be possible to change resolution in-game or via a config.

Sometimes games can just start using an odd resolyution that a monitor cannot use.

carbait · Post by **carbait** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 7:40 am

i've tried changing the resolution several times, but it didnt seem to do me any good.. i believe origionally the game ran in 600x800 would be my guess, but changing it doesnt seem to have any effect.. i am at a loss! and i know that at least the display settings on both desktops are the same (i checked) I wouldn't know what else would effect it... as for games installed, my hubby's profiles has a ton installed, mine profile only has fallout 1 and 2 installed... so i can't see there being a conflict (unless it needs another game installed, and that would be stupid)

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 10:17 am

Many Black Isle games have 'config.ini' files in their folders. Perhaps looking at that may provide you with more options (if it has one) such as a Windowed Mode. If there is a file (and it's similar to other ones) it will show a list of options followed by a '1' or '0'. Changing the number enables or disables a function.

Sometimes graphics issues are fixed in the windowed mode as the monitor's resolution isn't changed. The game can say it runs on 800x600 but run on a different one (or it's forcing your monitor to go to a different resolution- this happened to me with IWD1).

Even if you set your desktop resolution to 800x600, the monitor will automatically change for any videos or if the game demands a different resolution.

Good luck. I hope that helps

carbait · Post by **carbait** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 1:00 pm

i tried windowed mode..but didnt seem to fix the problem either >.> hmm.. im running outta ideas here lol

Malta Soron · Post by **Malta Soron** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 2:08 pm

New idea: play FO in the other account. I do the same with Rome: Total War.

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 5:29 am

[QUOTE=Malta Soron]New idea: play FO in the other account. I do the same with Rome: Total War.[/QUOTE]

I agree. It seems doubtful it's a problem with your graphics card or monitor if the game doesn't work in windowed mode either.
Was it installed under the other profile?

carbait · Post by **carbait** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 12:23 pm

not allowed to use another profile, its my hubby's puter and he's ultra-protective of his puter.. lol

a) If i install it under my profile it still runs on my hubby's profile fine, but not mine.
b) If i install it under my hubby's profile.. it still runs on my hubby's profile fine, but not on mine.

so it doesnt seem that it matters which profile i install it under >.<..just which one i play it under..

Malta Soron · Post by **Malta Soron** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 12:15 am

Maybe it's some program you're running in the background that's bugging.

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 3:17 am

Or it's designed to run under the first profile and can't recognise more than one. Especially considering it's Windows XP.

SctViltord · Post by **SctViltord** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 12:19 pm

how to run it in a window?

hey guys.. i was wondering what you did to make vampire run in a window.. ive found a cfg-file but couldnt find a place to turn it on/off :/

anyone knows it?

thanks,
Sune

Kipi · Post by **Kipi** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 10:27 am

[QUOTE=SctViltord]hey guys.. i was wondering what you did to make vampire run in a window.. ive found a cfg-file but couldnt find a place to turn it on/off :/

anyone knows it?

thanks,
Sune[/QUOTE]
Hmm... not sure what you mean by "vampire", Vampire: TM?
In that case you should post your question to corresponding thread, or if you can't find thread that is for the game you need help with, then you can post you questions [url="http://gamebanshee.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=32"]Tech Support[/url] -thread. That way you will find better someone who can help you.

This thread is for Fallout 1 -discussion only.

fisherman · Post by **fisherman** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 5:48 pm

I have run into this problem as well. I think it's related to programs running in the background: Limewire-type clients, chat clients, etc. Also try restarting. I couldn't tell you what exactly your problem is, but I can tell you some combination of those two fixed the exact same problem for me.

Azurial · Post by **Azurial** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 3:26 am

Same problem..

I've run into the same problem. It installed just fine, I applied the patch, and did the compatibility thing, and nothing. Well not nothing.. It plays the intro movie, and the begining selection menu. I can select new game, or load game, create my character, and move him around. However every few seconds the screen goes black accept where something on the screen moves, like a rat in the begining caves, my character/mouse pointer. The process repeats itself every few seconds.. No sound issues though!

Azurial · Post by **Azurial** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 10:26 pm

Got it working

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Problem:
When I started a new game on Fallout everything went great, until after character selection. See when I created - or selected - my character and started playing the game it was going fine. Then after the game play started the screen would go black.

The rats on the screen would act like a paint brush in a way. Sort of painting the game back onto the screen. The mouse pointer would do the same thing, paint the game back onto the black screen as I would move the mouse. If I moved my character however when the screen moved it would place the entire game -save the toolbar at the bottom- back onto the screen. Atleast for a little while. After a few seconds the cycle would start all over again.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Fix:
Right click your desktop, and select properties. From that click on Settings, select 16bit as the color quality. Change the resolution to 800x600 - not everyone will need to change the resolution. Apply the changes and exit out of the program.

Right click the Fallout icon, and select properties. Click on the Compatibility tab, and check the Compatibility mode box. Under the section where it says Display settings check the "Run in 256 colors" and "Run in 640 x 480 screen resolution" boxes. Next click Apply then Ok to apply the changes, and exit out of the program.

Next click start, and the click run. Type in msconfig and hit enter. At the top there are several tabs. Click the right-most one marked "Startup". There is a buttom marked "Disable All" located on the bottom-right just above the button marked "Help". Click on "Disable All" then "Apply" and "Ok". You will need to restart your computer.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Kipi · Post by **Kipi** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 6:23 am

[QUOTE=Azurial]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Problem:
When I started a new game on Fallout everything went great, until after character selection. See when I created - or selected - my character and started playing the game it was going fine. Then after the game play started the screen would go black.

The rats on the screen would act like a paint brush in a way. Sort of painting the game back onto the screen. The mouse pointer would do the same thing, paint the game back onto the black screen as I would move the mouse. If I moved my character however when the screen moved it would place the entire game -save the toolbar at the bottom- back onto the screen. Atleast for a little while. After a few seconds the cycle would start all over again.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Fix:
Right click your desktop, and select properties. From that click on Settings, select 16bit as the color quality. Change the resolution to 800x600 - not everyone will need to change the resolution. Apply the changes and exit out of the program.

Right click the Fallout icon, and select properties. Click on the Compatibility tab, and check the Compatibility mode box. Under the section where it says Display settings check the "Run in 256 colors" and "Run in 640 x 480 screen resolution" boxes. Next click Apply then Ok to apply the changes, and exit out of the program.

Next click start, and the click run. Type in msconfig and hit enter. At the top there are several tabs. Click the right-most one marked "Startup". There is a buttom marked "Disable All" located on the bottom-right just above the button marked "Help". Click on "Disable All" then "Apply" and "Ok". You will need to restart your computer.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=[/QUOTE]
Thank you for posting this!

I took a small freedom to add this on my technical problems? -thread.